On day 122 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from San Francisco to Carmel by the Sea.
From the starting point “Fisherman's Wharf”, we drive via the Embarcadero to the Presidio of San Francisco (originally El Presidio Real de San Francisco or the Royal Fort of Saint Francis).

Presidio is a park and former U.S. Army post on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula near the Golden Gate Bridge. Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Presidio had been a fortress since September 17, 1776, when New Spain established the Presidio to gain a foothold in Alta California and San Francisco Bay. It passed to Mexico in 1820, which in turn passed it to the United States in 1848. As part of a military reduction program under the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, Congress voted to end Presidio's status as an active military installation of the U.S. Army. On October 1, 1994, it was transferred to the National Park Service, ending 219 years of military use and beginning the next phase of mixed commercial and public use.

The park has many wooded areas, hills and scenic vistas overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It was recognized as a California Historic Landmark in 1933 and as a National Historic Landmark in 1962.

In the park you can visit the Walt Disney Family Museum, this museum tells the story of the man behind perhaps the largest media company in the world. The complete life story of Walt Disney, the man behind Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, can be seen in the Walt Disney Family Museum. How did he start drawing, how did he end up working with Mickey, and why did he open an amusement park when you were in your 50s? You will find the answers to those questions here. Especially fun for people who are fans of Disney.

We drive to Lands End via the Legion of Honor. Legion of Honor, formally known as the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, is an art museum in San Francisco, located in Lincoln Park. The park is also home to the statue of Joan of Arc, one of four replicas cast around 1922 from an original 1915 sculpture by Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington in New York City's Riverside Park.

At Lands End we visit the Cliff House, Camera Obscura and the Seal Rock. Enjoy views of Seal Rock and visit the Camera Obscura behind the Cliff House, a device based on a design by Leonardo da Vinci that produces 360-degree live spectacular views of the waters around Seal Rock.

We drive on the Great Highway past Ocean Beach, a beautiful long and wide beach on the west coast of San Francisco, located on the Pacific Ocean. The beach is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is popular with surfers. The beach is adjacent to Golden Gate Park and the Richmond District and Sunset District neighborhoods. The Great Highway runs for approximately 3.5 miles along Ocean Beach.

At the end of the Great Highway, you can visit the San Francisco Zoo, a 40-acre zoo and public institution managed by the nonprofit San Francisco Zoological Society. As of 2016, the zoo housed more than a thousand individual animals, representing more than 250 species. It is known as the birthplace of Koko the gorilla and, from 1974 to 2016, home to Elly, the oldest black rhino in North America.

The Great Highway becomes State Route 35 (SR 35), commonly known as Skyline Boulevard, which is a two-lane state highway for most of its length. This scenic road runs along the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains and because of its high elevation it is one of the few places on the southern part of the San Francisco Peninsula where San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean are both visible at the same time. It also offers scenic views of the Silicon Valley metropolitan area.

There are several stops along Skyline Boulevard to enjoy the views, such as at the World War II Devil's Bunker, one of six military structures at Devil's Slide. The station became outdated and was abandoned in 1949. The land was purchased by a private owner in 1983 and all buildings except the bunker were removed. The bunker is located 4.5 meters above the ground on a rock and is covered in graffiti. It is located on private property with limited public access, but is easily accessible. It's a short walk from the parking lot.

Point Montara Lighthouse, founded in February 1875, is also a great stop. The current tower was first built in 1881 in Wellfleet, Massachusetts as the Mayo Beach Lighthouse. In 1925, the cast iron tower was moved to Yerba Buena, and in 1928 moved and rebuilt into the Point Montara Light station, where it stands today. The lighthouse is not open to the public and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

There are also many vineyards along the route that you can visit for a tour or tasting, such as the Thomas Fogarty Winery, one of the Santa Cruz Mountain's most respected and historic producers. The winery dates back to 1978 when Dr. Thomas Fogarty, a Stanford Cardiovascular Surgeon and world-renowned inventor, planted the vineyards that are now the Winery Estate. Reservation required.

Skyline Boulevard connects to Highway 9. Enjoy the drive on this amazing highway that winds through the majestic redwood forests of the San Lorenzo Valley along the San Lorenzo River and logging-era railroad tracks. You'll pass the Henry Cowell Redwoods, beautiful towns like Ben Lomond, where bakeries and cafes are tucked next to antique and home goods stores, Felton and finally Santa Cruz.

We deviate briefly from the route to visit the Felton Covered Bridge in Felton. Built in 1892, this covered bridge over the San Lorenzo River in Felton uses a brown truss construction system and is approximately 80 feet long. The bridge became a California Historic Landmark in 1957, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and underwent major restoration in 1987 after being damaged during a storm in the winter of 1982. The bridge is considered the largest covered bridge in the world. The bridge is only accessible to pedestrians.

Lunch is planned in Santa Cruz where you can choose from several good restaurants and fast food chains. After lunch we visit Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz. The park features a natural bridge over part of the beach and a eucalyptus forest, which provides a habitat for monarch butterflies. During monarch butterfly migration (October to early February), up to 150,000 monarch butterflies can be seen.

At National Bridges State Beach Park, Westcliff Drive starts, enjoy the ride along this three-mile boardwalk with breathtaking views of the Monterey Bay and connecting Santa Cruz's most prominent landmarks. You'll drive past ice plant-covered cliffs and scenic beach coves with plenty of places to stop and take beautiful photos. A good example is the iconic Mark Abbott Lighthouse, which houses the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. From this scenic point you can marvel at surfers at the legendary Steamer Lane surf spot. Continuing on, you'll pass beautiful Monterey Bay filled with paddleboarders making their way along the Wharf, colorful umbrellas in the sand of Main and Cowell Beaches, and the dazzling attractions of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a classic seaside amusement park, located on a beautiful sandy beach in a friendly seaside town. The Boardwalk features more than 40 attractions, including two National Historic Landmarks: the world-famous 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and the beautiful 1911 Looff Carousel, plus many thrill rides, fun kiddie rides, casual dining, gift shops, games, indoor arcades and miniature golf . Definitely a nice stop to consider.

From Santa Cruz it is about an 80 kilometer drive along Monterey Bay to the terminus in Carmel By The Sea, known for its many attractions and beautiful white sandy beach. Carmel Beach is a favorite of visitors and locals alike. There are many hotels and resorts to stay overnight. Enjoy your stay in this beautiful seaside resort.